Travel warning for Israel - German military repatriates Germans
The German military has begun evacuating citizens from Israel as violence in the region worsens. The move comes after the Foreign Office issued travel warnings for Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon. Earlier efforts to repatriate Germans relied only on civilian flights, sparking criticism from opposition leaders.
On Sunday, three Luftwaffe aircraft brought 162 German citizens back to Germany. This operation followed earlier civilian repatriation flights organised by the Foreign Office. The decision to involve the military came after growing pressure from politicians.
Johann Wadephul, deputy leader of the CDU parliamentary group, called the government’s repatriation efforts 'chaotic'. CDU foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt argued that the military should have been deployed sooner. FDP defence spokesperson Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also stressed that the Bundeswehr’s involvement was now necessary.
The Bundeswehr has confirmed it is ready for a larger-scale evacuation if conditions worsen. Critics, including Sahra Wagenknecht and Alice Weidel, had previously questioned the government’s reliance on civilian options alone.
The Foreign Office’s initial approach faced backlash for not using military resources sooner. With the conflict escalating, the Bundeswehr’s role has become central to repatriation efforts. The government continues to monitor the situation closely as more evacuations may follow.
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